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60 years ago, 2 planes collided over the Grand Canyon and it changed the world

Members of a Swiss mountain climbing team sort equipment brought to aid them in search for bodies of victims of a United Airlines plane that crashed at the Grand Canyon on June 30. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

Members of a Swiss mountain climbing team sort equipment brought to aid them in search for bodies of victims of a United Airlines plane that crashed at the Grand Canyon on June 30.
Associated Press

Bags containing unidentified remains of people who died in the crash of a TWA Constellation over the Grand Canyon on Saturday, June 30, are loaded aboard a plane destined for Flagstaff, Ariz., and a coroner's office, July 3, 1956. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

Bags containing unidentified remains of people who died in the crash of a TWA Constellation over the Grand Canyon on Saturday, June 30, are loaded aboard a plane destined for Flagstaff, Ariz., and a coroner's office, July 3, 1956.
Associated Press

A woman pauses with a look of stunned horror in St. Louis, July 1, 1956 after receiving word that a TWA airliner on which her half sister was traveling for a visit. The plane's wreckage was found later in the Grand Canyon. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

A woman pauses with a look of stunned horror in St. Louis, July 1, 1956 after receiving word that a TWA airliner on which her half sister was traveling for a visit. The plane's wreckage was found later in the Grand Canyon.
Associated Press

This July 5, 1956 photo shows the view from across the Grand Canyon, where an Army helicopter was to drop one of the mountain climbers who was trying to reach the wreckage of a United Airlines UAL DC-7 that crashed after colliding with a TWA Constellation. The crash spurred improvements to the air traffic control and radar systems, and led to the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

This July 5, 1956 photo shows the view from across the Grand Canyon, where an Army helicopter was to drop one of the mountain climbers who was trying to reach the wreckage of a United Airlines UAL DC-7 that crashed after colliding with a TWA Constellation. The crash spurred improvements to the air traffic control and radar systems, and led to the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Associated Press

Members of a congressional investigation committee talk with Colorado mountain climbers, July 8, 1956, after viewing the scene where a United Airlines DC-7 crashed, June 30, killing 58 people. The UA plane collided with a TWA Super-Constellation above the Grand Canyon -- crashing both planes and killing all 128 people on board. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

Members of a congressional investigation committee talk with Colorado mountain climbers, July 8, 1956, after viewing the scene where a United Airlines DC-7 crashed, June 30, killing 58 people. The UA plane collided with a TWA Super-Constellation above the Grand Canyon -- crashing both planes and killing all 128 people on board.
Associated Press

This is the view looking up the Colorado River with Chuar Butte at left, seen July 1, 1956. The wreckage of the TWA Super-Constellation is at left, and the wreckage of the United Airlines plane is at the far end of the butte. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

This is the view looking up the Colorado River with Chuar Butte at left, seen July 1, 1956. The wreckage of the TWA Super-Constellation is at left, and the wreckage of the United Airlines plane is at the far end of the butte.
Associated Press

Nearly four hundred relatives and friends of the 70 people who died in the crash of a TWA Super-Constellation over the Grand Canyon June 30, 1956 attend a mass funeral service in Flagstaff, Ariz. Sixty-seven caskets were lowered into a common grave on July 8, 1956. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

Nearly four hundred relatives and friends of the 70 people who died in the crash of a TWA Super-Constellation over the Grand Canyon June 30, 1956 attend a mass funeral service in Flagstaff, Ariz. Sixty-seven caskets were lowered into a common grave on July 8, 1956.
Associated Press

In this July 3, 1956 photo, a burned area shows where a United Airlines UAL DC-7 crashed on Saturday, June 30, 1956, after a mid-air collision with a TWA Flight 2 Constellation, killing a total of 128 people. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

In this July 3, 1956 photo, a burned area shows where a United Airlines UAL DC-7 crashed on Saturday, June 30, 1956, after a mid-air collision with a TWA Flight 2 Constellation, killing a total of 128 people.
Associated Press

This map shows the two peaks in the Grand Canyon, where a United Airlines DC-7 and a TWA Constellation crashed, June 30, 1956. Associated Press

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

This map shows the two peaks in the Grand Canyon, where a United Airlines DC-7 and a TWA Constellation crashed, June 30, 1956.
Associated Press

In 1956, two commercial airliners, TWA Flight 2 and United Airlines Flight 718, collided in midair above the Grand Canyon. A seat belt buckle and fastener were found on the ground by Trey Brandt at the TWA crash site at the Grand Canyon in March 2005. Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

In 1956, two commercial airliners, TWA Flight 2 and United Airlines Flight 718, collided in midair above the Grand Canyon. A seat belt buckle and fastener were found on the ground by Trey Brandt at the TWA crash site at the Grand Canyon in March 2005.
Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

Trey Brandt stood at the base of Chuar Butte in March 2005. The arrow indicates where United Airlines Flight 718 impacted on the top of the cliff. Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

Trey Brandt stood at the base of Chuar Butte in March 2005. The arrow indicates where United Airlines Flight 718 impacted on the top of the cliff.
Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

Three propeller blade shafts found at the crash site of TWA Flight 2 in March 2005. Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

Three propeller blade shafts found at the crash site of TWA Flight 2 in March 2005.
Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

A receipt and what may have been a purse at the crash site of TWA Flight 2 was photographed by Trey Brandt in March 2005. Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

A receipt and what may have been a purse at the crash site of TWA Flight 2 was photographed by Trey Brandt in March 2005.
Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

One of the many parts that fell off the airlines after they collided above the Grand Canyon in 1956. Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

1956 mid-air collision above the Grand Canyon

One of the many parts that fell off the airlines after they collided above the Grand Canyon in 1956.
Trey Brandt / aircraftarchaeology.com

A woman pauses with a look of stunned horror in St. Louis, July 1, 1956 after receiving word that a TWA airliner on which her half sister was traveling for a visit. The plane's wreckage was found later in the Grand Canyon.(Photo: Associated Press)

The United Air Lines flight took off for Chicago at 9:04 a.m., three minutes after the TWA flight, according to the report.

The crash, blamed on turbulent weather, outdated visual flight rules and a lack of communication, would be fully detailed in the 1957 report on the accident.

According to the report:

TWA Flight 2, flown by Capt. Jack Gandy, flew north over the San Bernardino Mountains at a speed of 270 knots and an elevation of 19,000 feet. United Flight 718, flown by Capt. Robert Shirley, flew east over Palm Springs at a speed of 288 knots and an elevation of 21,000 feet. The two should have crossed paths without a problem and made it to their respective destinations with no problem.

Everything went as planned for about 15 minutes. Then Gandy called in to report turbulence. He requested approval to begin flying at 21,000 feet to avoid an overcast area up ahead. His request was denied, but he was granted permission to fly 1,000 feet on top of the bad weather.

More local history

According to the Flight Information Manual at the time, "Air Traffic clearances which specify 'at least 1,000 feet above all clouds' in lieu of a cruising altitude permits flight to be conducted at any altitude at or above the minimum en route altitude which is 1,000 feet or more above the cloud layer."

"1,000 on-top operations" are common, but put a lot more responsibility on the pilots when it comes to air traffic," the manual reads.

The maneuver would limit how much information the pilot would be able to receive about how close the plane was to other planes, leaving the pilot to rely on what he could see.

With the implementation of flight radars and satellite surveillance, "1,000 on-top operations" are not used anymore, according to Ian Gregor, a FAA spokesman.

"The type of radar and satellite surveillance we have today is far different from what existed 60 years ago," he said. "As a result, pilots would not typically need or ask to fly above the weather today. Pilots do sometimes request altitude changes to get above or below turbulence, and air traffic control will grant those if it is safe to do so."

A critical lack of communication

Nearly four hundred relatives and friends of the 70 people who died in the crash of a TWA Super-Constellation over the Grand Canyon June 30, 1956 attend a mass funeral service in Flagstaff, Ariz. Sixty-seven caskets were lowered into a common grave on July 8, 1956.(Photo: Associated Press)

When Gandy was granted permission to move to 1,000 above the clouds, the investigation report says, Shirley was not notified, even though it meant that the two aircraft would be flying over the same area at the same altitude, at around the same time.

The last coherent reports from the pilots were reportedly received just before 10:00 a.m., according to the accident investigation. At 10:30, Aeronautical Radio communicators in Salt Lake City received a call that was indecipherable. According to the report, after weeks of studying, the message was finally interpreted: "Salt Lake, United 718 ... ah ... we're going in."

About 10:31 a.m., the two planes collided over the Grand Canyon. The report states that the pilots' vision likely was obstructed by clouds that were moving in and out of the area at the time, and they probably did not see each other until it was too late to move.

The collision likely occurred over the confluence of the Colorado River and the Little Colorado River, according to the accident report. The two planes crashed downwards, with the TWA plane landing on the northeast portion of Temple Butte and the United plane coming to rest on the south side of Chuar Butte. The left wing of the United plane was found near the wreckage from the TWA plane.

The impact resulted in fires at both wreckage sites. All 128 passengers were killed.

'Crash canyon'

Trans World Airlines Flight 2

Aircraft: Lockheed Constellation, model 1049A

Passengers: 70

Pilot: Captain Jack S. Gandy, 41

United Air Lines Flight 718

Aircraft: Douglas DC-7M

Passengers: 58

Pilot: Captain Robert F. Shirley, 48

"Airliner Collision Feared; Wreckage Found in Canyon" was The Arizona Republic headline on July 1, 1956. A story by staff reporters Ray Silvius and Ted Kazy read, "A Trans-World Airlines Super Constellation plunged into the upper end of the rugged Grand Canyon yesterday, apparently killing all 70 persons aboard. Another airliner carrying 58 persons is missing in the same area.

"The two planes may have collided. If they did, and all are dead, it would be the worst single disaster in commercial aviation history."

"The TWA plane and the other craft, a United Air Lines DC-7, make routine radio checks to separate airline radio stations from the Needles, Calif., area, just before they crossed into Arizona on their way East.

"Both planes radioed they planned to be over the same spot in the Painted Desert at exactly the same time, according to an air force official. They may have been."

"Mr. Coffin (Lynn Coffin, then chief ranger at Grand Canyon National Park) said the find was made by Palen and Henry Hudgin, brothers who operate the Grand Canyon Airlines," the article said. "The brothers said the wreckage was on the side of a butte about 1,000 feet above the Colorado River, in rugged terrain difficult to enter. The wreckage was scattered over the hillside, they said, and two fires were burning in the area."

The crash site is now informally known as Crash Canyon and is a popular tourist attraction. Many people like to hike through the area, looking for the scattered remains of the 60-year-old tragedy.

Some of the wreckage is still resting in the canyon, glistening metal to remind hikers of the event on sunny days.

A wake-up call for aviation

Some good did come from the event, though. Although 65 crashes similar to this one had occurred from 1950 to 1955, this one was a wake-up call for aviation.

"The accident dramatized the fact that, even though U.S. air traffic had more than doubled since the end of World War II, little had been done to mitigate the risk of midair collisions," according to the FAA.

In 1958, inspired by this crash and others, the Federal Aviation Association was born.

According to the FAA, the Federal Aviation Act was proposed in May 1958 by Sen. Mike Monroney from Oklahoma, hoping to increase safety of national airspace. The act was signed by President Dwight Eisenhower two months later.

Today, planes do not fly under visual flight rules. Commercial jets always are directed by air traffic controllers at altitudes such as that where the 1956 crash took place, said Gregor, the FAA spokesman.